By Claire Neale
Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s lovely to have you here on this fine day. The morning is progressing smoothly and we anticipate no issues prior to lift-off. Stay with us won’t you!
It’s just a regular Wednesday morning in the Aramakutu household. Up before light – yip, there’s a toddler – and taking breakfast orders before “Morning Mum” can sneak past any of those hungry mouths. Halfway through breakfast the customers have realised the waitress has messed up their order. So, of course they kindly bring it back to the kitchen and dump it straight into the sink of soapy hot water.
“I’ll just have an apple,” they say. How lovely, no-one wants a fussy customer…breathe woman breathe.
Kids are ready but you’re still in your nighty and partner’s track pants (I learnt my ‘always wear pants’ lesson when my knickerless self once had to open the door to a delivery man at 7am!)
Nothing out of the ordinary, morning progresses without any unexpected hitches. Where’s my this? Where’s my that? – all very manageable. It’s past 8am now, starting to rush a little. Kids are ready but you’re still in your nighty and partner’s track pants (I learnt my ‘always wear pants’ lesson when my knickerless self once had to open the door to a delivery man at 7am!). You have 20 minutes to shower and get ready, no problem!
“We are leaving at 8.30, be ready!” You give instructions from behind the bathroom door.
This my friends, is T minus 20 minutes. From the shower, you can hear enough commotion to feel confident in your children’s abilities to self-manage – let’s say those over 3 years old at least – but not too much noise to worry that chaos is looming. Emerging from your room – dressed and looking somewhat respectable – things appear under control. You can see shoes, not on feet but THERE. Bags are zipped up, which tells you that they are packed and awaiting an owner. Jackets are scattered over the floor, ready to be put on though, right?
T minus 10 minutes: “OK kids, finish what you are doing and then be ready to go.”
Hah, look at me, I haven’t yelled once this morning!
